David Garrard joins the Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins this evening added a 34-year-old veteran and prepared to cut a 34-year-old veteran.

David Garrard has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins various media outlets are reporting, led by Foxsports.com which broke the story on twitter.

Garrard, who played 10 seasons in Jacksonville and has been a solid performer, obviously brings veteran experience in a backup role, assuming he does not win the starting job. It is unclear if he's been told he will able compete for the starting job or simply be the backup.

This much seems clear: It makes sense for the Dolphins to add at least one more quarterback, with that player probably being a draftee that can be groomed as the club's future franchise quarterback. It is also possible the Dolphins are still talking to Alex Smith but this is much less likely -- indeed, unlikely -- as Smith seems to be a better fit back in San Francisco.

The Dolphins did for all intents and purposes clear $4.3 million of cap space this afternoon by outlining to agent Drew Rosenhaus its intent to cut strong safety Yeremiah Bell. Bell has led the Dolphins in tackles in recent years but was seen as declining last year. While widely expected, this move was a departure from two weeks ago when general manager Jeff Ireland told Rosenhaus the team did not intend to cut Bell.

Garrard undoubtedly takes up some of the cap space created by the Bell move.

The Dolphins did not announce any of these moves. In truth, the Dolphins declined to confirm the fact Garrard visited Monday because he is a street free agent and the club does not announce visit from street free agents -- players that hit the open market because they were cut by other teams.

Garrard last season declined a chance to join the Dolphins in October after he was waived in Jacksonville. Two weeks later, while waiting to join the Oakland Raiders, he learned that he had a bulging disc injury in his neck and required surgery.

One assumes the Dolphins both worked out and gave Garrard a full physical before offering a contract. I also further assume Garrard's head did not fall off his shoulders during the physical because that would mean the Dolphins signed a headless quarterback.

Kidding. I personally like the addition. Worst-case scenario, the Dolphins have a better, more experienced backup QB than anyone else in the AFC East.

Comments

[ozkar]

Tim Tebow to the Miami Dolphins.Make it happen doggone it.

[husketeer]

I'm all for drafting Tannehill but for gods sake please let Ross see sense and fire Ireland. How does he keep his job after the prostitute question to Bryant's mom???? Now he's finally being called out on national TV and in the media for it. Players do not trust him, Coaches do not trust him, who the hell wants to be around this guy? Sparano deserved to go but Ireland publically betrayed his "so called friend".
The Des Bryant thing, Crowder hasn't a good word to say about him, Joey Porter has a big mouth but he's bang on to say what he did. Warren Sapp has the same opinion, Matt Flynn says the vibe in Seattle coaches was better, Manning didn't trust the management structure, how many more people think the same, obviously any good player or coach the Dolphins have tried to sign. Mr Ross open your eyes, I believe you want this franchise to win again but Ireland is stopping you achieve it, how many things have to fall into place before you realise it. Please act now before he ruins the draft and what possible future this team has, fire Ireland, Bill Polian is respected and unemployed, hell anybody would be better!!!!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[Fold the Team]

Sparano has to be cracking up!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[jaison]

that you ross and ireland!!! they have actually gotten this right!!!

i know most are haters on here but financially and talent wise this was the best move they could make.

manning, 5 years 25mill. never could have fit him in here.
flynn 9 mil smith 8 mil, would having been overpaying for guys who eren't a big upgrade over matt moore. 3 1st and a second for rg3 from a team picking ahead of us? we would have probably had to add even more picks price to high!!

garrard has great numbers, is a big arm and accurate, and a big body. if he's 100% he could give moore a run for the starting job. signing him also takes trading for tebow off the table. thank god!!

maybe a QB will find a way to us in the draft. if not i'm fine with moore/garrard this season.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[jaison]

sorry that was 5 year 95million for manning.

by the way, what flynn liked in seattle was that the gave him way more money than he deserves. that's what vibrated him!!

[Phins78]

Finfanmek I applaud your efforts but I'm afraid you're wasting your time. The problem is Jeff Ireland has books upon books of info on all of the players that were scouted. If he leaves so does all of that work and the draft will be a mess. I know Ireland already sucks at drafting in some peoples opinions but being fired now would make it worse.

Or they could fire him after the draft but what would be the point? The damage will already be done and Ross will allow the season to play out before letting him go. You should save your effort and make a big push starting next December. Ill definitely join the cause then amd if the season is going to be bad like so many say you will have so much more support.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[Jeff Row]

Just shows you that Jeff Ireland isnt calling the shots... jeff didnt know that Joe Philbin was going to cut Y.bell.. so all those saying jeff is running the show ..LOOK AGAIN!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

[finfanmek]

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-miami-dolphins-organization-fire-jeff-ireland-and-have-stephen-ross-sell-the-team?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

each signature is one step closer to getting OUR team back! idk who started this but thank you! please sign it!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

get a gun cracker you racist F..ck.
We are coming for you!!!!

[jaison]

aliandelon- quit being a douche and typing the same thing over and over!!! by the way, in that interview it was dez bryant who said his father was a pimp and his mother worked for him bringing on the question from ireland, your mother was a prostitute??

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[dfins006]

I guess that was the big splash that Mr. Ross was talking about.. LMAO!!!

What a moron! Why don't you just shut it!!

[Alex Costa]

;-) You guys are killing me heeheehuheuehuehuehueheu

Dolfan in Brazil!

Ps:Bozo Show heuuaehuheuhuhee

[jaison]

also, we still could have drafted dez bryant and if we did he would have never said a thing about that question. if it bothered him so much why did he wait until after we didn't draft him to come out with the story??

[Phins78]

Joe Philbin cut Bell? I thought the GM was in charge of signing and cutting players. Are you suggesting he cut our defensive captain so he could bring in a back up QB? And that Ireland has had no say in any of these deals? So why are we trying to get Ireland fired if Joe Philbin is the one making all of these questionable moves? Boy Philbin must be a real d#*k if he can't get any good qb to sign here!

Better change the rally to a fire Philbin rally now I guess.

[JackSparrow]

Sorry folks, this is a good signing. Garrard backing up Moore is the best possible position we could get at this stage of the game.

David is no scrub. Wouldn't surprise me if he starts. No other options out there. Draft a QB, let him ride the bench, then fight it out in 2013.

But there are no other options out there. Garrard is a good serviceable QB.

[tjh]

not incredibly impressed. I guess this is what happens when a guy named Ireland, can't reach an agreement with a guy named Flynn on St. Patrick's day.

[jaison]

also, bell was getting too much money for his age/lack of any type of coverage skill. he was a 5th linebacker more than a safety. and we didn't need to cut him to sign garrard, we were still well under the cap.

[jaison]

not incredibly impressed. I guess this is what happens when a guy named Ireland, can't reach an agreement with a guy named Flynn on St. Patrick's day.

Posted by: tjh | March 19, 2012 at 11:02 PM

YOU MEAN agree to pay him 26 million for 3 season?? i'm VERY glad ireland couldn't reach agreement!! if philbin was 100% sold on flynn they would have spent. i for one am glad they didn't!!!

[JackSparrow]

Someone had to be cut because that #8 is not going to be cheap. Still have to sign players from the draft.

[Few920]

Matt Moore is better than both smith and Flynn. 20 something million for Manning, 36 years old, we would be right back here all over again in 2 years. Harbaugh just did to Alex smith what Ross and Ireland did to Sparano and the media is telling smith to get over it. Fisher hired a defensive coordinator who put bounties on opposing players heads, Ireland asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute, stupid, yes but come on, get over it. And to listen to idiots like Clark, Sapp, Porter and Crowder is like, well, listening to Armando. Lots and lots of worthless information. Ireland drafted well last year, he will draft well again this year. We will be better and not in salary cap hell for overpaying second tier QBs until the time is right to do it for the one player who will put us over the top. In the mean time, come down off the ledge and stop overreacting, all you haters just look like 1980 s version of NYJ fans.

[finfanmek]

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-miami-dolphins-organization-fire-jeff-ireland-and-have-stephen-ross-sell-the-team?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

sign this pleaseee! we need to take action! help save OUR team!

[Phins78]

Careful Jaison and Jack. Too much objectivity in here will get you stalked, impersonated, and called a Jets fan by the loonies.

[JackSparrow]

I have to be honest. This signing might be an olive branch from Ireland to the players. Ireland appears to be someone who doesn't have high regards for non peyton, brady, brees, flynn, smith, hasselbeck, favre type QB's.

Which is probably why he didn't even try to trade up for RGIII.

He might be starting to think outside the box now. I think the players will like this signing. Just like when Bowles was head coach. They played their hearts out. Looked good down the road.

These players don't like Ireland because of who Ireland is. Not because of what he does.

[finfanmek]

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-miami-dolphins-organization-fire-jeff-ireland-and-have-stephen-ross-sell-the-team?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

Please Sign! Thank You!

[JackSparrow]

Bottom line, Garrard does not make this team worse. He makes this team better as it stands right now.

[Phins78]

Few920, I'm speechless. Thank you and jack, jaison for being the voices of reason in an otherwise irrationale blog. I will leave now before someone makes me sad again!

[alaindelon]

jaison...AKA Ireland's lover!
I'm gonna keep posting the quote...I'll be out at davie tomorrow at one! What do you prefer .45 or 9mm.
“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[TonyCane]

Projected Dolphins 2012 draft

Round 1: Offensive Guard
Round 2: Defensive End
Round 3: Middle Linebacker
Round 3: Wide Receiver
Round 4: Defensive Tackle
Round 5: Offensive Tackle
Round 6: Quarterback
Round 7: Safety

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[TonyCane]

That might be taking a wide receiver too high for this regime, but it's plausible.

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[alaindelon]

“is-your-mother-a-prostitute” line of questioning that worked so fabulously with Dez Bryant a couple of years back.

Mr. Bryant wants to have a sit down with you!!!!

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

Since Armando actually said something positive about the Dolphins it`s time to think about the 2012 apocalypse. Kidding.

Lets all breath for a second and look at our overall team now versus last year.
Lets start at QB... out Henne. In Garrard. IMHO this is a wash and we did see Moore win 6 of the last 9 games. And as my apocalypse statement points out the Dolphins now have the most experienced back up in the division.We now don't have to reach for a QB.We do need to draft one probably in the third.

O-Line Out Carey and Columbo. No loss there. In Murtha Jerry and Hicks. With the opportunity to draft a 3rd or fourth round pick this area can really be an upgrade.

TE. All the same carecters are back. Fasano is serviceable to good. This area can be upgraded late in the draft. Maybe...

RB Out Hilliard In Messam and Medlin...Wash

WR Out Marshall. In Marcus Thigpen. Big loss. This can be addressed in the draft in the first or second round. Short term minor downgrade sadly

Moving to the defence ...

D-Line Out Lankford. With the depth we currently have at this position a 5th round pick will probably suffice to fill out this unit.

D-End/OLB Out Jason Taylor. Big loss. In nobody. This is probably our biggest need that can be fixed this year. Very probably our first round pick.

ILB Same carecters... Wash

CB Out Will Allen In Richard marshall. Probably an upgrade.

Safety. Out Yeremiah In nobody.. Hopefully Reshad can play SS and we can afford to sign Reggie Nelson. There are third and fourth round picks that can help the Dolphins.

Special teams are okay but it`s possible that cap concerns might make Carpenter too expensive. A six or seventh round pick may be used to save almost 2 million. This is a concern but may be good use of the draft.

Sadly we`re not getting our Franchise QB this year and we`ll be trying again next, hopefully upper management won`t be so afraid to move up in the draft.

[Fan since 71]

Greg cote's article on the sorry state of this franchise is right on.Nfl network just ripped Ireland for his recent singing/This has turmed into a pathetic circus,It would not suprise me if Philbin Guit.

[Dick Pepperwood]

And When you say Miami Your Talking Super Bowl

[TonyCane]

Jeremy, the Dolphins will not draft a wide receiver above round three. Ireland is of one mind with Parcells. Bill Parcells viewed the wide receiver position as an afterthought. His teams were built to win with giant offensive line,a great running game, conservative quarterback play, and a strong defense (see Dave Wanstedt). Parcells and Ireland did not draft a wide receiver in the top three rounds while they were in Dallas. Why would the regime do so now, when they can fill these positions with rookie free agents.

[Jon]

My beef is cutting Y. Bell now instead of at the start of Free agency. It's bad business to do this to one of your team captains now, as well as lying to him and his representatives by saying he would not be released. Also, the money they now get from cutting Bell could have been used to sign a guy like Eric Winston. There is no question Miami from a talent stand point is worse now then it was a week ago. Garrard at this point in his career is no more then equal to the QB they already have. Unless they are planning on trading Moore, this makes no sense.

[TonyCane]

Jeremy, to reiterate we're drafting an offensive lineman. And the big deal that might happen is that we trade Jake Long for a first round pick, which will be turned into either a running back or another offensive lineman.

NO WIDE RECEIVERS!

[bcsp]

OK Phins front office, please end the madness and draft the kid from Arizona State in the 3rd round.

Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State, Height: 6-7. Weight: 242.

Give him 2-years with Philbin and the Phin's might have the next Arron Rogers.

This kid has a cannon like no other!!

[Jon]

They really should consider adding Tebow, this franchise absolutely needs Jesus

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

Parcells is gone Tony . Ireland will listen to his Coach and recognize the teams weaknesses. This year the depth in the WR class is very good but not infinite.

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

Don`t be so negative Tony.

[Scooter]

Actually this is good sense. Garrard costs zero. Bring him in let him compete with Matt Moore. Moore wins the QB slot. At worst Gar is backup QB. Go 1-15 or 2- 14 and go for Barkley or the next big name qb in the 2013 draft. I hate this fuggin franchise. LOSERS.

[shula71]

Guys their is a salary cap. You work under those numbers. Maybe Bell gets resigned cheaper??? I dont know maybe the guy who turned Cincys D backs into heroes can find a cheaper person to do the same job. Might be the new kid they just signed. Maybe we draft one???

But a true Dolphin fan would hold all the we suck crap till about mid-season. After all you guys might be proven wrong. I hope you are because sink or swim I am a fan of the Miami Dolphins and I think their is a ton of talent on this team.

I would like to see Ireland move on, but the reality is he has my dream job and probably most of the peoples here dream job.

I hope Ireland is right on this plan. Go Dolphins!!

[Carol City Ish]

I still want to see what we look like after the draft and before the season, Gerrard is a capable back up let things pan out first before you jump off the bridge.

[FLH]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
David frickin Garrard?
Pass the f*****g vodka!
Oh yeah....cancel the NFL ticket.

Ross is to blame. Should have fired Sparano 2 urs ago. Waited one year too many.
Should have fired Ireland this years.
Hanging on to Ireland (will be fired prior to next seasons completion, will set us back at least 5 yrs.

Bottoms up!

[dolfdan13]

I think Jeff Ireland is best if we "Suck for Luck" this year.

[dolfdan13]

I think Jeff Ireland thinks its best if we ''Suck for Luck'' this year

[socalfin19723]

In protest can we all end our post with'

F U IRELAND for the rest of the week,maybe just maybe someone in the PHINS front office will get the hint.

GO PHINS.
F U IRELAND.